The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-11
CHAPTER TX.


CHAPTER TX
IN WHICH Mr. NICHOLSON ACCEPTS THE PRIN-
CIPLE OF AN ALLOWANCE.
spite of the horrors of the day and the tea
drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of in
| fancy. He was awakened by the maid. as it
| might have been ten years ago. tapping at the
| door. The winter sunrise painting the east;
and as the window was to the back Of the house,
| is shons into the room with many strange colors
| of refracted light Without, the houses were
| ali clearly rooted with snow; the garden walls
| were COPIED with It a foot in height; the green's
| lay girtering. Yet strange as snow had grown
! to John during his years upon the Bay of San
| Francisco. 1t was what he saw within that most
| affected him. For it was to his own room that
| Alexander had been promoted; there WAS the
| paper with the device of flowers. in which acun-
ming fancy might yet detect the face of Skinny
| Jim of the academy. Johns former dominic;
| there the old chest of drawers; there
| the chalrs-one two, three-three as before.
| Only the carpet was new. and the litter of Alex
anders clothes. and books. and drawing mate
rails and pencil drawing on the wall. which lin
Johns eyes, appeared a marvel OF proficiency.
He was thus lying, and looking. and dream
ing hanging, as it were between two epochs in
his life, when Alexander came to the door, and
made his presence known in loud whisper.
John let him in and jumped back into the warm
bed.
well, John, said Alexander ''the cablegram
| is sent in your name, and twenty words of
swer paid. / have been to the cab Office and paid
your cab, even saw the old gentleman himself,
and properly apologized. He was mighty plaza
ble and indicated his belief yon had been drink
| bed and explained affairs to him as he sat and
shivered in dressing gown. And before that
went to the High street. where they had heard
nothing Of your dead body so that incline to
| the belief that you dreamed It,
Catch mel" said John.
'Wel the police never do know anything
assented Alexander; land at any rate. they have
| dispatched man to inquire and recover your
| trousers and your money so that really your
bill is fairly clean; and see but one lion In
| your path-the governor"
.I1l be turned out again. you'll see. said John.
| dismally.
Il don't imagine so, returned the other; mot
| If you do what Flora and l have arranged; and
your business now is to dress, and lose time
about it. Is your watch right Well, you have
| a quarter of an hour. BY five minutes before
| the half hour you must be at table in YOUR old
| seat under Uncle Duthie's picture. Flora will
| be there to keep you countenance; and we shall
see what shall see."
| ''Wouldnt it be wiser for me to stay in Dedl'
| said John.
IF you mean to manage your own concerns,
you can do precisely what you like" replied
Alexander; shut if you not in place five min
| utes before the half hour, wash my hands OF
| you, for one"
| And thereupon he departed He had spoken
| warmly, but the truth is his heart was some
what troubled. And as ne hung over the ban
| nisters, watching for his father to appear. he
had hard ado to keep himself braced for the en-
| counter that must follow
| ''If he takes it we'll, l shall be lucky. he re-
| fiected IF he takes it ILL., why, it'll be a her
| ring Jshn's tracks, and perhaps all for
the best. He's COMPOUNDED inufT this brother
|
At that stage door opened below with
tain emphasis, and Mr. Nicholson sol
EMMY to descend the stairs, and pass into his
| own apartment Alexander followed, quaking
1 inwardiy, but with a STEADY face. He Knocked.
was hidden to enter, and found his father stand
| ing in front of the forced drawer, to which he
! pointed as he spoke.
This is most extraordinary thing said he;
| II have been robbed"
81 was afraid you would notice it." observed
| his son; 1T made such beastly hash of the Ia
BILE"
| Mr.. Nicholson" And pray what may that mean"
THAT l was the thief, sir returned Alexan
| der. Il took all the money in the servants
should get hold of it; and here is the change,
| and note of my expenditure. You were gone
to bed. you see and did not feel at liberty to
knock you up; but think when you have heard
| the circumstances, you will do justice. The
! fact is l have reason believe that there has
been some dreadful error about my brother
Joan the sooner it could be cleared up tho better
! for all parties: IL piece of business, sir,
| and so took il: and decided. on nv own respon-
| sibility, to send telegram TO San Francisco.
| Thanks to my quickness; we may hear tonight
| There appears to be no doubt Sir, that John has
1 been aborninaoy used
| ssWhen did this take placel" asked the father.
Last night. Sir, after you were asleep was
Its most extraordinary" said Mr.. Nicholson.
do you mean to say you have been out all
IAN night. as you say sir. have been to
the telegraph and the police office. aud Mr..
| MacEwen's o. had my bands full, said Alex
ander.
very irregular" said the father. You
| think of no one but yourself"
| ''I do not SEQ that have much to gain in
| bringing back my elder brother. returned Alex
The answer pleased the old man; he smiled
well, we'll, will go into this after breakfast"
| he said.
| .sThe table is a small matter; l think nothing
OTIS another example, continued the son, 'sof
| the awkwardress of man having no money of
| his own. If had proper allowance, like other
| fellows of my age this would have been quite
unnecessary"
"a proper allowance" repeated his father. in
tones of plighted sarcasm. for the expression
was not new to him. Il have never gruoged
| you money for any proper purpose"
No doubt, doubt" said Alexander; shut
then you so aren't always the spot to have
| the thing explained to YOU Last night, for in
You could have wakened me last night in
Was it not some similar affair that first got
John into a messT asked the son, skillfully evad-
| ing the point
| pray, sir, how did you come to go out of the
| housel" be asked.
II forgot lock the door. it seems" replied
| Alexander.
II have had cause to complain of that too
| often" said Mr. Nicholson. But still do not
| understand. Did you keep the servants upl
Il propose to go into all that at length after
| breakfast" returned Alexander There is the
half hour going: we must not keep Miss Mac
kenzle waiting"
| And greatly daring. he opened the door.
Even Alexander, who. it must have been per-
| ceived was on terms of comparative freedom
with his parent; even Alexander had be-
fore dared to cut short interview in this high
| handed fashion. But the truth is, the very mass
of his sons delinquencies daunted the old gentle
man. He was like the man with the cart of APP
ples-tns beyond him! That Alexander
should have spoiled his table, taken his
| money, stayed out all night, and then
| coolly acknowledged all, was something I'M
| dreamed of in the Nichosoniau philosophy. ana
! transcribed comment The return OF the
change, which the old gentleman still carried in
his hand, had been a feature of imposing impu-
dence; it. bad dealt him a staggering blow. Then
there VIZ the reference Johns original fight
"a subject which he always kept resolntely cur
| tanned in his own mind; for he who
| loved have made mistakes, and when he
| feared he might have made one kept the papers